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The 7th Illinois Infantry.
Information on the uniforms and clothing worn by the individual Com-panies of the first six Regiments of Illi-nois Volunteers 90 days is sparse. From research, we know the majority of these Companies arrived at Springfield in their civilian clothes. Their hope, the State or Federal Government would provide them a uniform. Under the Il-linois State Militia Laws, each Compa-ny was to acquire a uniform from whatever source available and that the Federal Government would decide on payment. Patriotic hometown Soldiers Aid Societies or War Committees were formed to help provide clothing and necessities for the volunteers. Shortag-es of the proper cloth in the market place meant many of the Companies in the first seven Regiments would never receive a full uniform while in their 90 days service. The 7th Illinois Infantries’ first recorded issue of State Military clothing was May 18th, almost a month after enlistment.
CO. A. Elgin Continentals.
No detailed description or photo of their Company uniform has been found, but they did have one. The CHICAGO TRIBUNE of April 25th, 1861, reported, “… the citizens of Elgin have raised $400 cash for uniforming the Company, which is now being done in this city [Chicago]…They are armed with United States Regulation Rifles [model 55’ rifled-muskets], and need only uniforms to make a dashing corps.”
The Elgin Continentals were formed in the year 1855 as the Washington Conti-nental Artillery. Their first appearance was on the fourth of July, 1855, held in Colby's Grove near Elgin. The Compa-ny’s uniform was black trousers, white shirts, and black caps, and its members the elite young men of Elgin. Sergeant Samuel Ward of the Company was originally from Albany, N.Y. and re-membered his hometown Militia Com-pany the Albany Continentals. They wore the old Colonial garments of the American Revolution. He proposed the Elgin Company to adopt their conti-nental style of dress and they did. The Continentals obtained the services and were drilled by the future Captain of the famous National Zouave Cadets, Elmer. E. Ellsworth. In a drill competi-tion held in 1858, Ellsworth led the Continentals to victory. Afterwards a lavish Ball was held in the Waverly House in Elgin costing the men of the Continentals over $1,000 dollars, a tidy sum of money for the year 1858 in America!
From the: “Military History of Kane County, Illinois”, by John S. Wilcox, 1916; Journal of the Illinois State His-torical Society, Vol. 8. p. 482:
“The Continentals had been attired in the showy uniforms of the Revolu-tionary times, which now had to be changed to the inconspicuous gray of the United States Army. On Monday April 22nd, 1861…they were fully clad in their new gray uniforms on their way to Springfield, Illinois.”
Nathaniel Bishop wearing the uniform of the Elgin Continentals, this photo is post-Civil war. The uniform was blue with buff facings and vest, blue or buff trousers, cocked hat with red, white, blue plume.
CO. B. Mattoon Company.
No information has been found for this Company.
CO. C. Aurora Guards.
From the AURORA BEACON of May 23rd, 1861;
“We are all happy. We are not yet uniformed, a fact which may surprise some of you. The Honorable John Van Nortwick has ordered for our use 100 new caps, 100 new red shirts, and 100 pairs of gloves so that when we come out with our store clothes, we will make a fine appearance. You will see now that the work of awakening from a secure peace, an Army like that is now on foot in the North—equipping and uniforming them is not the work of a short time. The Officers ordered uni-forms in Springfield, but as the house here could not get the material, not even the buttons, short of New York, they have not yet arrived.”
From the AURORA BEACON
“We were greeted by our friends…and we passed the quarters of the Aurora Guards. Here, we found 75 of the finest looking men I ever saw, dressed in red woolen shirts, and glazed caps, presented to them by the C. B. and G. RR. CO.”
CO. D. Litchfield Guards.
From the CARLINVILLE FREE DEM-OCRAT of May 9th, 1861:
“They were without uniforms, and of course did not appear as to good ad-vantage as they will hereafter.”
From the LITCHFIELD JOURNAL of June 18th, 1861:
“Havelock’s and shirts were pre-sented to the Litchfield Guards by the ladies…”
CO. E. Lincoln Guards.
CO. F. Bunker Hill Guards.
CO. G. Yates Rangers.
No information for these Companies has been found.
CO. I. Springfield Zouave Grays.
From the ILLINOIS STATE REGIS-TER of April 18th, 1861.
“The Zouaves were at the [Spring-field, Illinois] train station to welcome the new Volunteer Companies as es-corts wearing their fatigue uniform.”
This ad was run in the ILLINOIS STATE REGISTER of April 22, 1861 for new uniforms for the Springfield Zouave Grays—mention of blue jeans is given in post Civil War articles. At present there are no photos or descriptions of this uniform.
CO. K. Macoupin Invincibles.
From the CARLINVILLE FREE DEM-OCRAT of May 9th, 1861.
“A group of dignitaries from the County of Macoupin reported that among the first seen were the Ma-coupin Invincibles’, drawn up in line in their new uniforms going through their drill. The Company flag is made of silk with a large eagle and 34 stars upon it, and lettered in gold, ‘Ma-coupin Invincibles’, and the Union must be preserved’”.
No photos or descriptions of the Mo-coupin Invincibles’ uniform have yet been found.
Thomas Arliskas-- CSuniforms-- I started this years ago collecting information on the first six Regiments of Illinois Volunteers-- I did the 7th and have 5 more to go!
Information on the uniforms and clothing worn by the individual Com-panies of the first six Regiments of Illi-nois Volunteers 90 days is sparse. From research, we know the majority of these Companies arrived at Springfield in their civilian clothes. Their hope, the State or Federal Government would provide them a uniform. Under the Il-linois State Militia Laws, each Compa-ny was to acquire a uniform from whatever source available and that the Federal Government would decide on payment. Patriotic hometown Soldiers Aid Societies or War Committees were formed to help provide clothing and necessities for the volunteers. Shortag-es of the proper cloth in the market place meant many of the Companies in the first seven Regiments would never receive a full uniform while in their 90 days service. The 7th Illinois Infantries’ first recorded issue of State Military clothing was May 18th, almost a month after enlistment.
CO. A. Elgin Continentals.
No detailed description or photo of their Company uniform has been found, but they did have one. The CHICAGO TRIBUNE of April 25th, 1861, reported, “… the citizens of Elgin have raised $400 cash for uniforming the Company, which is now being done in this city [Chicago]…They are armed with United States Regulation Rifles [model 55’ rifled-muskets], and need only uniforms to make a dashing corps.”
The Elgin Continentals were formed in the year 1855 as the Washington Conti-nental Artillery. Their first appearance was on the fourth of July, 1855, held in Colby's Grove near Elgin. The Compa-ny’s uniform was black trousers, white shirts, and black caps, and its members the elite young men of Elgin. Sergeant Samuel Ward of the Company was originally from Albany, N.Y. and re-membered his hometown Militia Com-pany the Albany Continentals. They wore the old Colonial garments of the American Revolution. He proposed the Elgin Company to adopt their conti-nental style of dress and they did. The Continentals obtained the services and were drilled by the future Captain of the famous National Zouave Cadets, Elmer. E. Ellsworth. In a drill competi-tion held in 1858, Ellsworth led the Continentals to victory. Afterwards a lavish Ball was held in the Waverly House in Elgin costing the men of the Continentals over $1,000 dollars, a tidy sum of money for the year 1858 in America!
From the: “Military History of Kane County, Illinois”, by John S. Wilcox, 1916; Journal of the Illinois State His-torical Society, Vol. 8. p. 482:
“The Continentals had been attired in the showy uniforms of the Revolu-tionary times, which now had to be changed to the inconspicuous gray of the United States Army. On Monday April 22nd, 1861…they were fully clad in their new gray uniforms on their way to Springfield, Illinois.”
Nathaniel Bishop wearing the uniform of the Elgin Continentals, this photo is post-Civil war. The uniform was blue with buff facings and vest, blue or buff trousers, cocked hat with red, white, blue plume.
CO. B. Mattoon Company.
No information has been found for this Company.
CO. C. Aurora Guards.
From the AURORA BEACON of May 23rd, 1861;
“We are all happy. We are not yet uniformed, a fact which may surprise some of you. The Honorable John Van Nortwick has ordered for our use 100 new caps, 100 new red shirts, and 100 pairs of gloves so that when we come out with our store clothes, we will make a fine appearance. You will see now that the work of awakening from a secure peace, an Army like that is now on foot in the North—equipping and uniforming them is not the work of a short time. The Officers ordered uni-forms in Springfield, but as the house here could not get the material, not even the buttons, short of New York, they have not yet arrived.”
From the AURORA BEACON
“We were greeted by our friends…and we passed the quarters of the Aurora Guards. Here, we found 75 of the finest looking men I ever saw, dressed in red woolen shirts, and glazed caps, presented to them by the C. B. and G. RR. CO.”
CO. D. Litchfield Guards.
From the CARLINVILLE FREE DEM-OCRAT of May 9th, 1861:
“They were without uniforms, and of course did not appear as to good ad-vantage as they will hereafter.”
From the LITCHFIELD JOURNAL of June 18th, 1861:
“Havelock’s and shirts were pre-sented to the Litchfield Guards by the ladies…”
CO. E. Lincoln Guards.
CO. F. Bunker Hill Guards.
CO. G. Yates Rangers.
No information for these Companies has been found.
CO. I. Springfield Zouave Grays.
From the ILLINOIS STATE REGIS-TER of April 18th, 1861.
“The Zouaves were at the [Spring-field, Illinois] train station to welcome the new Volunteer Companies as es-corts wearing their fatigue uniform.”
This ad was run in the ILLINOIS STATE REGISTER of April 22, 1861 for new uniforms for the Springfield Zouave Grays—mention of blue jeans is given in post Civil War articles. At present there are no photos or descriptions of this uniform.
CO. K. Macoupin Invincibles.
From the CARLINVILLE FREE DEM-OCRAT of May 9th, 1861.
“A group of dignitaries from the County of Macoupin reported that among the first seen were the Ma-coupin Invincibles’, drawn up in line in their new uniforms going through their drill. The Company flag is made of silk with a large eagle and 34 stars upon it, and lettered in gold, ‘Ma-coupin Invincibles’, and the Union must be preserved’”.
No photos or descriptions of the Mo-coupin Invincibles’ uniform have yet been found.
Thomas Arliskas-- CSuniforms-- I started this years ago collecting information on the first six Regiments of Illinois Volunteers-- I did the 7th and have 5 more to go!
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